Chapter 55

Bree’s POV

When I got to Dominic’s house, I could not help but feel even more excited than I was when I left my house. His place was not too big but it looked so nice and I could not wait to see what the interior looked like.

I got down from my car and walked to his front door. When I got there, I rang the bell and waited nervously for a response.

When Dominic opened the door, his warm smile made me relax immediately. He always had that effect on me.

“Hey, Bree. Come in,” he said as he opened the door and stepped aside.

“Wow!” I exclaimed as I walked into the house. “Your home looks so beautiful.”

It was so beautiful. It gave off this major cozy vibes and it calmed me.

Dominic smiled proudly.
“Thanks. I’m flattered. Want a tour?”

“Absolutely.” I said.

I dropped my bag on one of the sofas in the living room as he took me around the house and showed me everywhere, starting from his study to the rooms and finally to the kitchen that had every state of the art equipment.
He clearly took his cooking seriously.

Dominic walked around the house with this confidence but not the one that arrogance came with. The house was just like him, not too much but all that’s needed at the same time. I loved it.

“So,” he started as we walked further into the kitchen. “Are you ready to show me your mad baking skills?” He asked as he started to bring out the things needed for baking.

I laughed nervously. “Uh, yeah. About that… I may have exaggerated a little.”

His eyebrows lifted, amused. “Oh? I thought you said you knew how to bake.”

“I might have said that to impress you… and, well, to hang out with you,” I admitted, shrugging with a sheepish smile.

He laughed, the sound rich and warm, and said, “Well, that makes the both of us.”

I blinked, confused. “Wait, what do you mean?”

Dominic grinned. “Contrary to what I said, I actually do know how to bake. I only said I didn't because I wanted to hang out with you”

He walked over to a cabinet and brought out the flour and a crate eggs then walked over to the kitchen island with them in his hands.

“I actually thought I would just sit back and let you do your thing… but since you’re now confessing that you don't know how to, I just might have to take over,” he said teasingly.

I crossed my arms, playfully indignant. “You mean the liar was lied to?”

Dominic let out a small laugh as he rolled up the sleeves of his cloth and brought out aprons.
“Only a little.”

We both laughed as he got all the ingredients together. Soon enough, flour was everywhere on our body as we started to follow the recipe I had suggested we tried. Well I tried, but Dominic was the one doing most of the work while I just made a mess of everything.

“So much for being the best baker,” he said to me teasingly after I tried to stir the flour mixture in vain.

I let out a small breath as I tried to get my hair out of my face.
“I told you, that was a lie to hang out with you!”

“Well we are hanging out now,” he replied with a soft voice, but his voice was more serious than before. I turned to look at him and I saw that he was staring at me with such intensity that I felt my knees go weak.

There was something charged now- an unspoken pull I wasn’t ready for but couldn’t deny. I looked away, trying to focus on stirring the dough, but Dominic stepped closer, the heat of his body making it impossible to ignore him.

“Can I kiss you?” He asked in a low, gentle and careful voice being the gentleman that he was.

My breath caught in my throat and I could hear my heart pounding in my ear. No one had ever asked me that question.

I gave him a small nod, not being able to form any words. My hand still gripped the wooden spoon, my brain trying to focus on something- anything- other than the fact that Dominic was so close, and I wanted him even closer.

He was not moving but just staring at me so without thinking, I reached up and pulled him closer to me as I wrapped my arms around his neck. His lips met mine in a soft, gentle kiss at first but then it immediately deepened. It was passionate and gentle at the same time. I had kissed before, but this? This was different. It was soft but full of fire, patient but insistent, and I found myself wanting more of it.

Dominic’s hands slid to my waist, lifting me effortlessly onto the counter as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He fit perfectly between my legs, and the world around us seemed to fade away. His hands didn’t roam around, they just rested on my hips and his touch there did more harm than good because the tingles kept building up until they spread out across my body.

God, I like him- like this more than anything, I thought to myself and that alone was terrifying. It scared me the way I reacted to him, the way I wanted more of him- nothing else but him.

When we finally pulled away from the kiss and each other, my breathing was uneven and I tried to catch my breath. I looked at him shyly as I tried to process it all, my body and lips still tingling.

"That was... perfect," I said, my voice soft but sincere.

He smiled back, pressing a quick kiss to my forehead before setting me back on the floor. He looked like he was trying to hold himself back.

“We should probably check on those cookies,” he said with a chuckle, his voice slightly hoarse.

“Y- yeah, um sure… of course,” I stuttered as he turned to check on the cookies. I put my hand to my head to steady myself.

“The cookies are done,” he said as he made to bring them out of the oven.

We spent the rest of the day just talking, eating the cookies we baked and enjoying each other's presence.

When it was late at night, we decided to call it a day. Dominic walked me to my car and he gave me a warm hug before he opened my door for me.

“Please drive safely and call me when you get home,” he said in a warm voice.

“I will. I'll see you soon?“ I asked, hoping for a positive answer.

A part of me still hoped he wanted to see me, especially since he didn't mention what my dad told him.

“Of course,” he replied and I sighed in relief.

I got into my car and Dominic watched me drive off before he went back into the house, I had the biggest smile on my face as I made my way home.

When I got home, I pulled over, got out of the car and made my way into the house. Immediately I walked inside, I heard the sound of voices coming from upstairs but I could not make out what they were saying.

I walked further into the house and slowly up the stairs to where the voice was coming from and I realized it was coming from the balcony. I could hear my dad’s voice and I wanted to go to my room but I instinctively moved closer to hear what they were talking about.

I walked closer to the conversation and just as I was about to finally hear what they were saying, the conversation abruptly ended. I reached the balcony. I was surprised to see that it was my dad and Andy that were there. And they both looked surprised to see me.

“What are you both talking about?” I asked, looking between them.

Andy seemed shaken, her face pale, and my dad cleared his throat, stepping forward.

“I was just filling Andy in on the private investigator I hired to watch Marissa. We’ve been keeping tabs on her movements.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Okayyyy… but why does Andy look so freaked out?”

Andy blinked, snapping out of her daze.

“It's very frightening,” she let out in a shaky voice. “Thinking about what Marissa might be planning. I’m just a little on edge.”

I let out a small sigh as I nodded in understanding.
“Marissa is crazy, but you should calm down, Andy. Dad's got it under control. Right?“ I said as I turned to my dad.

“Yes that’s true,” he said as he gave me a small smile.

Everywhere fell into an uncomfortable silence and it felt like there was something more, like I had interrupted them but before I could dwell on it too much, my dad finally spoke up.

“If you both would excuse me,” he said as he briefly checked his watch.
“I should get going. I have important things to take care of.” he said.

I nodded as he gave Andy a brief look before heading downstairs and out the door.

Once he was gone, I turned to Andy, who still seemed a bit off.

“You sure you're okay?” I asked.

Andy nodded quickly, offering me a small smile. “Yeah. I'm fine.“

I wanted to take her word for it but I could not help but feel that something was off.

Something more than just Marissa.